No one to look after siblings who lost parents

Omkar Kamble (10) and his younger sister Sakshi are staring at an uncertain future after losing their father Shrikant, mother Nirmala and elder sister Shraddha in the accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway.

The siblings now have only their aged grandmother, but she is unable to take care of them all by herself.

Orphaned: Omkar Kamble and younger sister Sakshi outside their home at Laxminagar in Yerwada. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

Vilas Kamble, the children’s uncle and another survivor, said, “We will provide them love and care but our earnest wish is that the government should provide compensation to all victims and kin of the deceased. All victims need support and the government should provide funds for their future.”

Residents of Laxminagar said they were worried about the future of the two children.

Another survivor, Pranit Kharat (14) is fortunate to have relatives to take care of him after losing his entire family in the accident. The boy’s parents Pravin and Aruna and elder sister Amisha died in the accident. His aunt Anita Vijay Bahule has come forward to take care of him. Pranit is recuperating in hospital.

“Once Pranit is discharged from the hospital, he will stay with me and I will take care that he completes his education and gets the same love and care which he would have otherwise got if my brother were alive,” Anita said.

Three injured admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic on Monday evening were stated to be stable.

Umravati Mhaske (45), admitted in General Ward Number 3, has suffered multiple fractures, including a pelvis fracture. She lost her elder son Siddharth Mhaske (18) and is still in a state of shock.

Sandhya Sanjay Haribhakt (30) also has a pelvic fracture and multiple fractures in her left leg. She was accompanied by her husband Sanjay Haribhakt and five-year-old daughter Suhana, who escaped unhurt in the accident.

Janabai Manjare (45) has multiple contusions on her face and is admitted in General Ward N-11.

According to a relative of Sandhya, the medical expenses will be borne by the local corporators of Yerwada and the Centre. Six more patients are expected to be shifted to Ruby Hall from the Panvel civil hospital.

Survivors say lost jewellery, money Many accident survivors complained they lost their belongings, including gold jewellery and cash. One such survivor is the bridegroom’s mother Lilabai Bahule, who says she lost her precious belongings while victims of the accident were being shifted to hospital. She said losing so many relatives was such an unbearable loss that she did not care about the loss of her belongings. Anita Bahule said she also faced a similar experience, as did many of her relatives.

ACP Devendra Pol refuted the claims about jewellery being misplaced during the rescue operation. “The jewellery and belongings have been given to the descendants of the deceased along with receipts,” he said.